Electrical advertising device



(No Model.) J. J. MQGORMACK. ELECTRICAL ADVERTISING DEVIGE.

Patented Aug. 18, 1896.

m: uomus PETERS 00 PHOIOUTHOU WASHINGTON n c UNITED STATES PATENTOFFICE.

JOHN J. MCOORMAOK, BROOKLINE, MASSACHUSETTS.

ELECTRICAL ADVERTISING DEVICE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 566,087, dated August18, 1896.

Application filed January 25,1896. Serial No. 576,780. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern: J

Be it known that I, J OHN J. MCCORMACK, of Brookline, in the county ofNorfolk and Commonwealth of Massachusetts, have invented certain new anduseful Improvements in Electrical Advertising Devices, of which thefollowing is a specification.

My invention relates to adevice for advertising, consisting of a glassor other transparent plate, upon which the advertisement is printed,written, or stamped, and illuminated by an electric or other light,placed so as to shine through it,and thus exhibit the for the purpose.

devices and words onthe transparent plate.

While my invention is more especially intended for use as a means ofadvertising, and I intend more particularly to use it for streetcars,yet it is obvious that it may be used for many other purposes.

In the drawings I have shown an octagonal device, that is capable ofdisplaying eight different advertisements, and adapted to display eachfor a predetermined period of time. The devices automatically turn, soas to display each in turn at the opening prepared It will be readilyseen, however, that various forms of my device may be made withoutmaterially departing from my invention.

. Figure 1 shows an elevation of a street-car with my advertisingadjustment placed on the top thereof, the opening through which theadvertisement is seen being on the out side, so as to be read by personson the street, and on the left-hand upper end I have shown a portion ofthe car broken away, so as to show the operating device hereinafter tobe described. Fig. 2 is an enlarged view of the device, which is to beattached to the top of the car; Fig. 3, a longitudinal section thereofon line a: m, Fig. 4; Fig. 4, a cross-section on line y y, Fig. 3; Fig.5, the same on the line z P, Fig. 3; Figs. 6, 7, and 8, details of theoperating device to be hereinafter explained.

a a is a box, substantially of the form shown in Figs. 1, 2, and 3, tobe attached by suitable supports to the roof or upper portion of thestreet-car, with an opening on one side, through which theadvertisements are shown. These advertisements are suitably placed onglass strips suitably attached to the octagonal frame I), which revolvesin box a by means of the ratchet-wheel c and pawl d. The ratchet-wheeland pawl are operated by means of magnets placed at one end of the box aand energized through a shunt-current from the main wire, whichfurnishes power to the electric motor used for operating the car. Thelocking-pawl d prevents the ratchet b from revolving more thanone-eighth turn at each closure of the circuit.

f is a spring which returns the pawl to position to act again. The frameb is supported at each end by bearings g g, made of tubing. Attached tosaid tubing is rod h, on which are fastened a suitable number ofelectric lamps i i, to properly illuminate the advertising-plates, thecurrent of these lamps being supplied through the street-current fromthe main power-wire, the wire connection of the lamps passing throughthe tubing at on end, as shown in Fig. 3.

The magnets 6, operating the ratchet-wheel which revolves the frame I),are controlled by an automatic circuit-breaker 19, consisting of a smalleight-day clock m, (without a dialplate,) on the face of which, in placeof the figures ordinarily used, is fastened a small disk at, Fig. 6,which revolves by means of the clock-movement.

0 o are buttons on the face of the disk, which come incontact with thespring 13 by the revolution of the disk, thereby closing the circuit atstated intervals to energize the magnet. This automatic current breakermay be placed inside of the car or at any point easy of access. The faceof the disk may be covered by a hinged door to prevent its being injuredby careless or mischievous persons.

1" is an octagonal-faced lock-nut on the end of the box a, and havingthe spring 5 hearing upon it, as shown in Fig. 8, the object being tokeep the box from moving, except as it is turned by the mechanism abovedescribed.

VVhat I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

In an advertising device, the stationary box, the revolving inclosingframe placed therein, supporting-standards, and hollow axles upon whichthe case revolves, combined with a support for the lamps, anelectricallyoperated mechanism for causing the case to revolve, aclockwork, provided with a revolving disk n, having buttons 0 on itsouter side, a spring 19, which makes contact With the buttons at regularintervals, a conducting-Wire connected to the spring and theelectrically-operating mechanism, and Wires which extend through theaxles and connect with the lamps, substantially as set forth. JOHN J.MCCORMAOK. WVitnesses:

M. E. FLAHERTY, WILLIAM L. MOONEY.

